Mark Driscoll

For another pastor known as "The Cussing Pastor", see Thaddeus Matthews (pastor).
For other people named Mark Driscoll, see Mark Driscoll (disambiguation).

Mark Driscoll
Mark Driscoll preaching at Mars Hill Church, set against a large projected image that reads "Ten Commandments: set free to live free"
Driscoll preaching at The Trinity Church
Born
Mark A. Driscoll

(1970-10-11) October 11, 1970 (age 54)
Grand Forks, North Dakota, US
EducationWashington State University (BA)
Western Seminary (MA)
Occupations
  • Pastor
  • author
Years active1990–present
SpouseGrace Driscoll (née Martin)
ReligionChristianity (evangelical)
Church
  • Mars Hill Church (1996–2014)
  • The Trinity Church (since 2016)
Websitewww.realfaith.com Edit this at Wikidata

Mark A. Driscoll (born 1970) is an American evangelical pastor and author. He is the founder and primary contributor of RealFaith ministries.[1] He is also the senior and founding pastor of Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona,[2] which was founded in 2016.[3]

In 1996, Driscoll co-founded Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Washington. In March 2014, Mars Hill Church had 14,000 members in five states and fifteen locations.[4][5] He also founded The Resurgence (a theological cooperative) and co-founded other parachurch organizations, such as Acts 29 Network,[6] Churches Helping Churches, and The Gospel Coalition.[7] He has written for the "Faith and Values" section of The Seattle Times,[8] OnFaith,[9] and the Fox News website.[10] Driscoll has also authored a number of popular Christian books, including A Call to Resurgence.

Driscoll has been described as "an evangelical bad boy, a gifted orator and [a] charismatic leader"[11] who is "hip yet hard-line".[12] A conservative evangelical, he favors "vintage" aesthetics and a "down to earth", "aggressive" preaching style.[13][14][15] Controversy has surrounded his teachings on gender roles, his alleged plagiarism, and the culture of fear and abuse that allegedly existed during his tenure at Mars Hill.[16][17][18]

In the summer of 2014, Driscoll faced public criticism and formal complaints from Mars Hill staff members and congregants due to alleged abusive behavior.[19] In August 2014, the board of Acts 29 Network removed him from its membership and urged him to step down from ministry.[11][20] On October 14, 2014, Driscoll resigned from Mars Hill Church.[21][22] Within three months of Driscoll's resignation, Mars Hill Church was dissolved leaving each church campus to either close or become autonomous.[23]

In 2021, Mark Driscoll was the subject of a popular podcast called The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.

  1. ^ "About Real Life: The Ministry and Teaching of Mark Driscoll". April 13, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  2. ^ GMT, Martin Saunders Thu 24 Mar 2016 11:30 (March 24, 2016). "Fast-tracked restoration: Why is Mark Driscoll already back in church leadership?". www.christiantoday.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :27 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Connelly, Joel (March 20, 2014). "Ex-Mars Hill pastors want mediation, repentance". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  5. ^ Lee, Morgan (November 23, 2013). "Mars Hill Church in 'Early Stages' of Planting in Spokane, WA". Christian Post.
  6. ^ Driscoll, Mark (March 28, 2012), A Note on Some Transitions, Acts 29 Network, archived from the original on October 20, 2013, retrieved December 8, 2012
  7. ^ Carson, D. A.; Keller, Tim (March 28, 2012). "Driscoll Steps Down from TGC Council". The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  8. ^ Driscoll, Mark (August 13, 2005). "Convict finds salvation in prison cell, becomes pastor and counselor". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Mark Driscoll". OnFaith. FaithStreet.
  10. ^ "Pastor Mark Driscoll – Archive". FoxNews.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :22 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Harris, Dan (March 26, 2009). "Tempers Flare at Debate on the Devil". ABC News.
  13. ^ Sandler, Lauren (September 13, 2006). "Come as you are". Salon. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Mark Driscoll". Christianity Today. Retrieved April 10, 2014. Known for his aggressive preaching style (Donald Miller immortalized him as "Mark the Cussing Pastor" in Blue Like Jazz), Driscoll has stirred controversy over comments about masculine Christianity, sexuality, and women.
  15. ^ Merritt, Jonathan (October 23, 2013). "Divisive pastor Mark Driscoll says Christians should stop infighting". Religion News Service. Archived from the original on August 21, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2014. Controversial pastor ... Mark Driscoll has been called a lot of things: bully, sexist, fundamentalist, bigot. ... Driscoll's list of divisive comments runs much deeper than these isolated incidents.
  16. ^ Worthen, Molly (January 6, 2009). "Who Would Jesus Smack Down?". New York Times Magazine. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  17. ^ Tarico, Valerie (April 3, 2014). "Christian right mega-church minister faces mega-mutiny for alleged abusive behavior". Salon. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  18. ^ Wieman, Roxanne (September 9, 2010). "Mark Driscoll Says Just Grow Up". Relevant. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014.
  19. ^ Cite error: The named reference :232 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  20. ^ Bailey, Sarah (August 8, 2014). "Mark Driscoll removed from the Acts 29 church planting network he helped found". Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  21. ^ Tu, Janet I. (October 15, 2014). "Mars Hill Church reeling as Pastor Mark Driscoll quits". The Seattle Times.
  22. ^ Bailey, Sarah Pulliam (October 15, 2014). "BREAKING: Mark Driscoll resigns from Mars Hill Church". Religion News Service.
  23. ^ Graham, Ruth (November 7, 2014). "How a Megachurch Melts Down". The Atlantic. Retrieved November 8, 2014.